Continuous multiple-section envelope assembly



L. M. FUREY 2,776,085

CONTINUOUS MULTIPLE-SECTION ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY Jan. 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 9, 1954 R.T WM m m w a L AWTOHNEKS I CONTINUOUS mumrmmsscnon ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY Filed July 9, .1954

L. M. FUREY Jan. 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR. Zawrevzce M H BY United States Patent CONTINUOUS MULTIPLE-SECTION ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY f Lawrence M. Furey, Warwick, Va., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application July 9, 1954, Serial No. 442,455

2 Claims. 01. 229-69) (Granted under Title 35, U. s. Code 1952 see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention provides improvements in multiple-section envelopes of a type that is constructed and connected together in a continuous series of separated although interconnected compartments which can be utilized for general purposes for receiving documents, letters, circulars, and the like, which are intended to be consigned to dilferent delivery stations in the same or different oflices or departments of a given establishment, the improved envelope construction being designed to fulfill a current requirement for insuring removal of individual documents at a given delivery station without removing other or similar documents prematurely before successive delivery points therefor are reached, thereby enhancing assurance of safe delivery of the contents of each compartment or envelope atthe desired delivery point or station.

Therefore, a general object of the invention may be said to be a provision of an improved construction and arrangement of series connected envelopes for the aboveindicated purpose, which assures safe 'delivery of the contents of individual envelopes of the series without loss or Without any likelihood of the contents of the envelopes becoming intermingled at or between proper delivery stations, the construction enabling individual envelopes to be severed easily from the complete assembly without disturbance of the contents of any of the envelopes.

The handling of such documents as carried out previously to the adoption of the present envelope construction embodied the enclosure of all documents with required copies in a single shipping envelope, which required that at each successive check point or station the single shipping envelope had to be opened, one copy removed, then the envelope rescaled. This procedure entailed certain definite disadvantages, in that successive opening and closing of the single shipping envelope often weakens the sealing means to the extent that such means becomes broken or inoperative, and during the removing of the shipping documents or other contents of the single envelope, carelessness or rough handling usually results in the envelope becoming torn; and furthermore, it frequently occurs that the checker or inspector, upon removing all of the contents from the envelope for selecting and removing the desired document may not properly replace the remainder, so that loss or misplacement of such contents becomes a frequent occurrence.

The present envelope construction obviates the foregoing disadvantages in an effective manner.

The accompanying drawings represent the production and assembly of an embodiment of a multiple-section envelope constructed and embracing the present improved construction.

In these drawings- Fig. 1 is a view of complemental front and rear blanks employed in constructing the improved envelope of this invention, the view showing such blanks in separated or disassembled condition and flatly opened;

- envelope compartments;

Fig. 4 is a view of the. completed assembly, but wherein the individual envelope compartments are only partially folded; i i

Fig. 5 is a view of the complete assembly showing all sections or compartments fully folded relative to each other; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating structural details of the present assembly, the individual sections thereof being indicated in partially folded or collapsed relation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the present improved construction comprises complemental blanks A and B, thesevblanks being adapted to be united adhesively to form the plurality of individual envelope compartments indicated. on the blanks A and B of Fig. l as sections 1 through 6, inclusive, which are of similar shape and dimensions, and which are delineated by intervening fold lines 7 .and stepped top and bottom edges 8 and 9, respec-:

tively. The blanks shown in Fig. l are fabricated in such manner so. that alternate front and rear sections will have upwardly projecting tabs 10 and cut-out upper corners 12, all of which are similar.

The complemental blanks A and B, as Well as the individual elements or sections 1 through 6, are of equaldimensions and when assembled the resulting individual envelopes are provided with lateral perforations 14 which enable'successive outer envelopes to be torn or otherwise separated from the. assembly without disturbance of the remainder. Intermediate these perforations 14 and the lateral fold lines 7 between the successive envelopes, each of the individual envelopes is provided adjacent to each side with similaraligned eyelets 16, which are provided for enabling the envelope assembly to be nailed or secured otherwise to a backing surface, not shown, which may be a side of a box or other package or container which is to be shipped. The individual envelopes are closed by folding the top tabs 10 in opposite directions and by applying adhesive layers to the sides and bottoms of the blanks, as is indicated at 18 and 26, the adhesive side layers 18 being spaced inwardly from, but adjacent to, the lateral perforations 14.

When assembled for use, the individual envelopes when expanded into extended position, as indicated in Fig. 3, receive the selected contents therefor. The envelopes then are folded upon each other on the intervening fold lines 7, in a zig zag or accordion manner, and the end tabs or flaps 10 are folded over in opposite directions so as to close each of the successive envelopes. The eyelets 16 thus are brought into registry for passage of suitable attachment means for securing the envelope assembly to a backing surface, such as the side of a shipping package or box (not shown), the upwardly stepped relation between the successive envelopes enabling convenient access to be had to any selected envelope of the series, and at a given station each successive outer envelope may be removed completely from the assembly without disturbance of the remaining envelopes or contents by tearing along the lines of perforations 14.

The material from which the envelope blanks are made preferably is of transparent sheet plastic material, cellulose acetate being representative of a suitable material. Such sheet plastic material is of substantial stiffness, and is wear-resistant, so that the contents of the envelopes will be preserved without becoming creased or torn or otherwise mutilated so long as they are retained in the envelopes.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present construction contemplates a continuous strip of suitable ma- P'atented J an. 1, 1957' g 3 terial which is divided into equal sections defining the individual envelopes. The continuous strip is provided with transverse folds between adjacent envelopes, permitting the strip and envelopes to be folded zigzag to form what is commonly termed a fold pack orffiat pack, the weakened lines of perforations enabling successive outer envelopes to be separated from the remainder of the assembly without disturbances of such successive envelopes or contents. The stepped relationship between the successive envelopes of the series permits convenient access to successive envelopes and their contents.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a multi-section envelope fabricated as a continuous strip or unit consisting of a plurality of individual'and similar envelopes, each' attached to the others by a perforated edge, each envelope being detachable from the remainder by being torn along such perforated edge. The envelopes normally are folded one upon the other with their lower edges disposed in stepped relation and their opposed longitudinal edges provided with means for detaching successive envelopes from the remaining sections without disturbing those envelopes attached to the remaining sections, the sections being connected by equally spaced accordion folds extending transversely across the strip and defining the individual envelopes between such folds. The eyelets 16, provided for tacking, are in registry throughout the assembly.

- It will be apparent from the above description of the preferred embodiment of the invention that it fulfills all of the objects recited therefor, and while the preferred embodiment has been disclosed and described in detail, it will be understood that the same is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying inventive concept, and accordingly, it will be understood that it is intended and desired to embrace within the scope of the invention such modifications and changes as may be needed or desired to adapt it to varying conditions and uses, as defined in the appended claims.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A multi-section envelope assembly comprising a con- .and similar serially connected complete envelopes, means continuously connecting the envelopes together in uniformly stepped relation, each envelope being attached to the adjoining envelopes along opposed longitudinal sides by a perforated edge enabling detachment of each complete successive envelope from a successive adjoining envelope by being torn along such perforated sides, the envelopes of the assembly being normally reversely folded one upon the other in reverse directions and in stepped relation, the means connecting the envelopes including equally spaced accordion folds extending transversely across the continuous strip of envelopes intermediate successive envelopes with the accordion folds serially interconnecting the individual envelopes and enabling the envelopes to be folded in, reverse directions with respect to each other, an upper end closure flap for each individual envelope, each closure flap being reversely folded on successive envelopes for causing all of the flaps to face in one direction responsively to the envelopes being flatly folded in reverse directions in the assembly, and aligned marginal eyelets for the individual envelopes enabling the envelope assembly to be attached to a backing surface, the eyelets being in both vertical and horizontal alignment throughout the assembly and being in registry when successive envelopes are reversely folded one upon another for enabling passage therethrough of attaching means for mounting the assembly on the backing surface.

2. A multi-seotion envelope assembly as described in claim 1 and further characterized in that the envelope walls are of substantial tensile strength.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,016,149 Henson Jan. 30, 1912 1,424,780 Sea Aug. 8, 1922 1,710,603 Benenato Apr. 23, 1929 2,342,702 Sherman Feb. 29, 1944 2,351,805 Bonnaire June 20, 1944 2,610,784 Henry Sept. 16, 1952 

